Apoptosis in subicular neurons: A comparison between suicide and Addison's disease

Abstract

Background:

Stress and depression shows possible links to neuronal death in hippocampus. Subiculum plays a prominent role in limbic stress integration and direct effect of corticosteroids on subicular neurons needs to be defined to assess its subsequent impact on hippocampal plasticity.

Aim:

This study was intended to assess apoptosis in subicular neurons of a young depressed suicide victim, where presumably stress induced excess of corticosteroids and a case of young Addison's disease with low level of corticosteroids.

Materials and Method:

Both bilateral adrenal glands (Addison's) and subiculum (both cases) were initially stained with hematoxylin and eosin; subicular neurons of both cases were examined for the degree of apoptosis using ‘ApopTag Kit’. Apoptotic cell counts were expressed as average number of labeled cells/mm ² and the results were analysed statistically using a non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test.

Result:

Apoptotic neurons were detected in the subicular region of both suicide and Addison victims, and it is statistically significant in both right and left between the cases ( P < 0.05). In suicide victim, the neuronal apoptosis is considerably significant between the two hemispheres ( P < 0.05), in contrast to Addison disease where the number of neuronal cell death between right and left was statistically insignificant ( P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

The present study confirms the vulnerability of the subicular neurons to apoptosis, possibly due to corticosteroids in both ends of spectrum.